Improved amalgamating-machine



E. HEATH.

Ore Amalgamator.

Patented Feb. 17. 1863.

' muen w Wig-@6656 s QM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELANDER HEATH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVED AMALGAMATlNG-MACHINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,688, dated February 17, 1863.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELANDER HEATH, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain Improvements in Amalgamators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the amalgainator, consisting of a hollow cylinder revolving upon the axis of rotation aa, which, although in the same plane, does not coincide with the axis of the cylinder b b, but intersects thesame at its center; hence the cylinder is always in equilibrium, having no tendency to assume any one position by the force of gravity. Fig. 2 is a section through the plane of the axis; and Fig. 8, a cross-section through as or, showing the interior of the cylinder to be corrugated parallel with its axis, and having circular ribs 0 c 0 across and rising above the corrugations.

d is a door for the introduction of material and o is an orifice at the lowest part for the exit of the same, the door being placed for the convenience of the operator, so that it will open at the side when the orifice is down and the cylinder being emptied of its contents. The ribs do not continue across the corrugation, which terminates at 0, thus leavinga free conduit for the exit of material. The amalgamator, being charged, and the door and orilice closed, revolves upon its axis a a, and

during each revolution the lower side of the cylinder is inclined alternately to the right and left, thus producing a sidelong motion of the contents in each direction, which, being intercepted by the ribs, produces a riffle, and in conjunction with the corrugations results in a thorough admixture and continual change, thus exposing to the action of the mercury every particle of the material opera-ted on. As in common barrel-amalgamators, pieces or scraps of iron should be placed in the cylinder, the utility of which is greatly enhanced by the tumbling motion of my machine.

I am aware that barrels or cylinders hung on diagonal axes have been used heretofore for other purposes, and it is not my desire to claim, broadly, such diagonal mounting, but by the internal construction which I adoptviz., the longitudinal corrugations, in combination with the cross-ribs, and with the corrugation terminating at 0 unobstructed-I obtain a machine which, when mounted and rotatin g as described, assists the process of amalgamation in a superior manner, and is at the same time convenient in manipulation.

VVhat- I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The employment of a cylinder constructed internally with corrugations and ribs, arranged as described, and rotating upon its diagonal axis.

Witnesses: ELANDER HEATH.

GHAs. A. HAVVLEY, DAVID SToDnART. 

